PinoyTambayan

Corona’s latest offer: I’ll resign but I keep everything I have

 

By Ellen Tordesillas

I find the revelations of Chief Justice Renato Corona of the meetings that he had with President Aquino and other administration stalwarts very interesting. I just wish that he tells the complete story and not just be selective in his sharing with the public.
I also expect the same from Malacañang.
Corona disclosed the proposal of administration ally Sen. Teofisto Guingona for a term sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, which Guingona denies.
He should also disclose his counter-offers especially the latest ,made through a retired associate justice , that he was willing to resign on condition that he would keep everything that he owns now.
What Corona has only disclosed were his meetings with President Aquino and the Guingonas, father and son.
The Aquino-Corona meeting has been confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. It took place in July 2010,  a few weeks after the latter was sworn into office by Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, in the house of the President's sister, Pinky Abellada.
It's only now that we are learning that despite the inaugural snub, Aquino met with Corona in private. Corona said Aquino was not friendly with him during the meeting which was arranged by former Associate Justice Antonio Nachura, a member of the Liberal Party, the administration party.
Corona said Aquino talked to him about the Truth Commission that he was creating to investigate "some personalities." Gloria Arroyo. He said he advised Aquino that the Commission should not target specific personalities which Aquino didn't heed because it specified in his Executive Order graft and corruption under the Arroyo administration.
As expected, the Corona Court declared the Truth Commission unconstitutional.
Lacierda disputed Corona's version of the lunch meeting saying that the President just asked Corona if they can expect fairness from him. Corona, according to Lacierda, assured them, "We will render decisions based on fairness and legal precepts."
The meeting with the Guingonas took place late last year before the House of Representatives impeached the Chief Justice in December. It was held in the older Guingona's residence in New Manila, Quezon City.
Corona was Sen. TG's professor in Ateneo law School while the chief justice former senator Teofisto Guingona, Jr were both members of the Ramos cabinet.
Corona, who is retiring on Oct. 14, 2018, says Sen. TG raised the idea of his term-sharing with Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is retiring on Oct. 25, 2019.
Corona said he rejected the idea right away because it was not "legally possible" as he was appointed to a specific term.
He said the younger Guingona immediately dropped the subject.
Sen. TG denies ever having raised the idea of term sharing and said the conversation was just, "a hi, hello, how are you."
At the start of the impeachment trial, Corona said he will not give Aquino the pleasure of his resignation.
That was before  Enriqueta Vidal, the SC clerk of court, turned over to the impeachment court the chief justice's Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth.
That was before documents of his bank deposits submitted as evidence in the impeachment court showed huge amounts that were not reported in his SALN.
Reliable sources said even as Corona was going on an offensive, he has asked another retired SC justice (not Nachura)to relay a message to Malacañang that we might consider resigning if he would be allowed to name his successor. Malacañang, we were told, said "No way."
Corona's latest offer, our source said, was he is willing to resign on condition that he keeps everything that he has now.
It's still "No way" from Malacañang.
Ano siya, sinuswerte?